DECEMBER 2001

*NSYNC remained publicly active as the year ended, performing at the Billboard Music Awards and participating in a televised Secret Santa segment for MTV. The group also hosted a Christmas charity event in Orlando, maintaining appearances of unity. According to Lance Bass’s memoir, December marked the moment Justin Timberlake privately suggested a shiatus to pursue a solo album encouraged by Jive Records.

1)*NSYNC attended the 2001 Billboard Music Awards and joined the All Stars for a live performance of “What’s Going On”. The BBMAs aired on December 4th, 2001.
Title: Billboard Music Awards
Original Source: FOX network live broadcast (unavailable)
Secondary Source: Musik Angel Youtube
Current Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFvp2jwqoDk
Title: 2001 Billboard Music Awards
Author(s): Multiple
Original Source: 2001 Billboard Music Awards Wikipedia Entry
Current Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Billboard_Music_Awards

2)A fan site reports that *NSYNC did a CFTC Christmas charity event at XS Pointe, Orlando on 12/08/2001. In Chapter 6 of ‘Out of Sync’, Lance says that*NSYNC taped a song for MTV and exchanged gifts with some fans. Search for the taped musical segment yielded no results. However, the TRL Secret Santa with *NSYNC segment was uploaded to YouTube.
The 12/20/2001 entry in Melinda’s Corner confirms the charity event and the MTV taping but does not include dates.
Author(s):”JackieJ10”
Title: ‘Nsync ‘N the News
Original Source: Unknown
Secondary Source: ‘Skeeto Feva’ Tripod page
Current Link: http://jackiej10.tripod.com/id2.htm
Author(s): Melinda Bell
Title: Melinda’s Corner
Original Source: Nsync.com/melindas_corner.html, 12/20/01 entry (unavailable)
Current Link: http://web.archive.org/20030425162735/nsync.com/melindas_corner.html
Author(s): Lance Bass
Title: Out of Sync
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page(s): 83 (digital edition)
Title: TRL’s Secret Santa with *NSYNC
Original Source: MTV network live broadcast (unavailable)
Secondary Source: StillNSYNC Youtube channel
Current Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj_Q95R9TTU

3) and 4) In Chapter 6 of Out of Sync Lance also says it was after the MTV taping that Justin came to his hotel room while he and Joey were listening to CDs. According to Lance, Justin proposed that the group take a 6-month break, mentioning that he wanted to work on a solo album Jive wanted him to make.
Author(s): Lance Bass
Title: Out of Sync
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page(s): 83 (digital edition)